Sports implement grip training device

ABSTRACT

A swing teaching aid in the form of a sleeve that slips over a user&#39;s finger for use with various sport implements with handles that are gripped with the hands, e.g., a tennis racket, a golf dub, a baseball bat, and a hockey stick that detects when excessive grip pressure is exerted by a user and audibly signals to the user that the implement is being gripped too tightly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of a co-pending commonlyassigned application Ser. No. 11/479,189 filed Jul. 3, 2006, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a swing teaching device, in general, forvarious sport implements with handles that are gripped with the hands,e.g., tennis racket, golf club, baseball bat, and hockey stick, and, inparticular, to such a training device in the form of a finger sleevewhich incorporates devices for detecting gripping pressure and signalingto a user when the implement is being gripped too tightly.

Proper swing performance in sports utilizing implements with handles,e.g., tennis, golf, baseball, and racquetball, can be adversely affectedif excessive grip pressure is used in holding and swinging theimplement. Despite correct placement of the hands on the handle, if theimplement is gripped too tightly, i.e., excessive hand pressure isapplied; the weight of the implement cannot be felt or sensedcontributing to inconsistent tempo and rhythm in the swing. Masterteachers of golf, for instance, instruct that to obtain the correct grippressure a player must be able to distinguish when excessive grippressure is applied. If the grip is too tight a player will not be ableto feel the clubhead of the golf club throughout the entire swing. Theplayer thus loses awareness of the clubhead actually striking the balland propelling it to the target. Similarly, in tennis, if the racket isheld too tightly, the swing will become rushed and uneven. With a loosergrip of the racket, the swing will be smooth and promote better contactwith the ball.

One way of correcting difficulties with grip pressure is to employ theuse of training aids that encourage a relaxed grip. With repeatedpractice and reinforcement of proper technique through feedback fromsuch aids, a user can “memorize” or feel the appropriate grip pressurefor swinging a sports implement.

Conventional designs aimed at solving the aforementioned problems havebeen configured, including training aids utilizing (i) pressure sensorsand feedback mechanisms attached or embedded in gloves, e.g., golfgloves, or (ii) pressure sensors and feedback mechanisms attached ontothe handle of sports implements where the hands are typically placed.Such prior designs have incorporated devices attached to gloves whichalert a user of excessive grip pressure by thrusting tacks, for example,into the fingers of the user to encourage the use of less grip pressure.Other designs using gloves incorporate mechanical or electronic pressuresensors which signal that excessive grip pressure is being used bycommunicating visual or audio feedback to the user. Still other trainingaid devices measure and record the grip pressure and related movementsof expert users of an implement, transfer the implement to a noviceuser, and provide a feedback signal to the novice user when their grippressure and related movements deviate from that of an expert user.

Such designs and devices are restricted to being used with a glove ormust be specially imbedded into the grip end of a sport implementhandle. Furthermore, the locations on the hand of the user or handle ofan implement where such devices may be placed are fixed. The presentinvention, however, allows a user to place a grip pressure monitoringdevice on any one of the user's hands as well as a plurality of fingersand thumbs in a variety of positions as may suited to the user. Thenovelty and utility of the present invention may be better recognized bycomparison to the prior art as discussed below.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,726 discusses a sports practice glove for use with aclub, racket, bat or other item of sports equipment which has a handleto be gripped. The glove has a pressure operated switch on each fingerand on the thumb of the glove and on the palm area of the glove. Theswitches which are rubber pad pressure operated switches of the normallydosed kind are connected to a battery operated alarm circuit having anaudible alarm. When used in accordance with the invention, if the clubis improperly gripped, i.e., not gripped tight enough, the pressure onone or more switches will fall below a predetermined threshold and analarm will be actuated. Such a device, however, is not useful fordetermining if the grip pressure applied to the club is excessive.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,595 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,788 discuss the use of agrip glove where exceptional pressure between the finger and the clubcauses an indicator element to be thrust into the finger thereby causinga sharp sensation in the finger to indicate that the exceptionalpressure has taken place, and a glove which includes a number ofsemi-sharp, tack-like units attached to the glove at pressure pointswhere the user typically tends to grip the equipment too tightly thatextend toward the user's hand and are sufficiently sharp to causediscomfort when pressed firmly against the palm or fingers,respectively. In each aforementioned glove design, the discomfort servesas direct biofeedback to the user, indicating that his or her grip istoo tight and should be relaxed. Despite the aforementioned utility,these inventions require that pain be inflicted upon a user in order totrain a proper grip pressure.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,370 describes a capacitive sensor that may beincorporated in a glove, grip end, or other housing means that providesa signal in response to pressure. However, the invention is generallydirected to the measurement of impact forces.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,442 relates to a novel golf glove and ischaracterized in that on the inside surface of the thumb of the glove,i.e. the surface that bears against the club shaft when playing, thereis a pressure sensor that interacts with an acoustic signal transmitteror is part of an acoustic signal transmitter that delivers an acousticsignal when a predetermined trigger force acting on the sensor isexceeded. Where the grip pressure is applied and excessive such as atthe fingers, and not the thumb, the invention is ineffectiveparticularly in the use of sport implements such as a tennis racket.

Accordingly, the need remains for a simple, cost-effective grip pressuretraining device that can be used on one or more fingers, including thethumb and be disposed at any position along the length of a finger whilealso being useable for training in various sports many of whichtypically do not use gloves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A grip pressure teaching aid according to the present invention providestraining with respect to grip pressure when used as a swing teachingdevice for various sports, e.g., tennis, racquetball, golf, andbaseball. Such a device, a finger sleeve, having the features of thepresent invention, includes (i) a pressure sensor for detecting grippingpressure, (ii) a sound module for receiving the pressure sensor signal,and for providing an audio alert to a user when an implement is beinggripped too tightly, (iii) a microprocessor board for providing signallogic to the sound module and for assembling the battery and the soundmodule, (iv) a power source, such as a battery or solar cell, forproviding power to the pressure sensor and sound module, (v) wires foroperatively connecting the sensor, sound module and power source, and(vi) a flexible cylindrically shaped material for housing the sensor,sound module, board, battery, and wires fashioned to slip over a user'sfinger. In one embodiment of the present invention the finger sleeve isconstructed of neoprene which encapsulates an assembly comprising apressure sensor, sound module, and battery which slips over a user'sfinger or thumb. Advantageously, multiple swing teaching devices in theconfiguration of a finger sleeve allows a user to select any combinationof fingers and/or thumb on one or both hands to train the grip pressureused in holding or swinging an implement.

According to a more particular aspect of the invention, one or morefinger sleeve devices can be used to teach proper grip pressure in thetennis swing wherein a glove, as discussed in the prior art, is not usedwhen holding a tennis racket. A user will hear an audible sound if toomuch force is applied to one or more pressure sensors therein a fingersleeve device when gripping or swinging the tennis racket.

In another aspect wherein both hands are actively involved in grippingand swinging a sport implement, e.g., a golf club and a baseball bat,interaction between both hands and digits may result in multiplepressure points between the hands and the sport implement. Unlike theprior art, the present invention, allows users to pinpoint and trainspecific grip pressure problem areas by using a plurality of fingersleeve devices strategically placed on different fingers, thumbs, andhands.

The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects ofthe present invention. Indeed, the inventor contemplates that theinvention includes all devices and methods that can be practiced fromall suitable combinations of the various aspects summarized above, aswell as those disclosed in the detailed description below andparticularly pointed out in the claims. Such combinations haveparticular advantages not specifically recited in the above summary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a finger sleeve device used to teachproper grip pressure when holding and swinging a sport implement, inaccordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective fold-out view of the finger sleeve device ofFIG. 1, showing a pressure sensor, a sound module, microprocessor board,and a battery each connected by wires and attached onto the wall of aflexible fabric sleeve.

FIG. 3A through 3C are perspective views of a finger sleeve device beingworn by a user, in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4A and 4B are perspective views of a finger sleeve device beingworn by a user while holding a tennis racket and a golf club,respectively, in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

A finger sleeve device according to various aspects of the presentinvention provides numerous benefits, notably a simple, low-cost swingteaching aid that audibly alerts a user if the grip pressure on a sportimplement such as a tennis racket or golf club is too tight. Anadvantageous combination of a pressure sensor and a sound module,connected to a battery power source, all encapsulated in a cylindricalflexible sleeve, allows a user to train a proper grip pressure for avariety of sports utilizing swinging implements, e.g., tennis rackets,baseball bats, and golf dubs. As may be better understood with referenceto FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, for example, a finger sleeve device 100 comprisesa pressure sensor 101, preferably a snap-disc pressure sensor; a soundmodule 102; a battery 103; wires 104 a and 104 b; a microprocessor board105; and a flexible fabric, preferably neoprene 201.

In this embodiment a battery 103 and sound module 102 are assembled ontoa microprocessor board using standard circuit interconnects. A snap-discpressure sensor 101 is connected to the sound module 102 by wire 104 aand to the battery 103 by wire 104 b, respectively. The battery 103provides power to the snap-disc pressure sensor 101 and the sound module102, and microprocessor circuit. Referring to FIG. 2, the microprocessorboard 105, comprising the battery 103 and the sound module 102, and thesnap-disc sensor 101 are affixed to the flexible fabric 201 in anysuitable fashion, such as, but not limited to, by adhesive, by sewing orthe like. The flexible fabric 201 comprising the microprocessor board105, the battery 103, the sound module 102, and the pressure sensor 101is, preferably, configured in the form of a sleeve as depicted in FIG. 1by any suitable means, such as, but not limited to, by adhesive, bysewing or the like.

A user is able to identify and train specific areas where her grip holdsor swings a sport implement. FIGS. 3A thru 3C illustrate embodiments ofthe present invention wherein a finger sleeve device 100 is placed on athumb—as shown, in this instance the left hand thumb—(FIG. 3A); on twofingers of one hand—as shown in this example, the right hand—(FIG. 3B);or on a thumb and a finger of any or both hands (FIG. 3C). Othercombinations for locating a finger sleeve device are possible and arenot limited by the specific examples cited herein.

The snap-disc pressure sensor 101 of finger sleeve device 100 is,preferably, located in a position to contact the palm side of a user'sfinger or thumb between the handle of a sport implement, for example thehandle of a tennis racket 301, and the palm-side grip of the user's handas illustrated in FIG. 4A. It is, of course, possible that the sensor101 may be attached in different locations therein a finger sleevedevice 100. In addition, the number of pressure sensors 101 can varydepending upon the complexity of the training system desired. It is alsopossible to use pressure sensors of a type other than a snap-discsensor, including commonly known as load cells, force sensors, andvarious digital sensor signal processors.

In holding or swinging a sport implement such as a tennis racket 301 orgolf club 401, for example, if the grip pressure exerted by the user ofsaid implement exceeds the pressure threshold of the pressure sensor 101the pressure sensor 101 generates a signal that is transmitted via wire104 a to the sound module 102 which in turn emits an audible sound.

With reference to FIG. 4B, an important aspect of the present inventionincludes the advantageous use of a plurality of finger sleeves devices100 as a swing teaching aid. Exemplary system 400 illustrates forexample the use of two finger sleeve devices 100 wherein a user grips agolf club 401 using both hands. In this configuration each finger sleevedevice 100 is operable to inform the user if either the right hand, lefthand, or both hands have exceeded the grip pressure threshold. Exemplarysystem 400 also illustrates that a finger sleeve device 100 may be usedwith a golf glove 402 by sliding said finger sleeve device 100 over oneor more fingers of a gloved hand.

No one embodiment disclosed herein is essential to the practice ofanother unless indicated as such. Indeed, the invention, as supported bythe disclosure above and in the originally filed claims, includes allsystems and methods that can be practiced from all suitable combinationsof the various aspects disclosed, and all suitable combinations of theexemplary elements listed. Such combinations have particular advantages,including advantages not specifically recited herein.

Alterations and permutations of the preferred embodiments will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specificationand a study of the drawings. For example, finger sleeve devicesaccording to various aspects of the invention can include solar poweredbattery sources. In addition, a finger sleeve device can be used intraining motor skills of user undergoing physical therapy or the like.

Accordingly, none of the disclosure of the preferred embodiments definesor constrains the invention. Rather, the issued claims variously definethe invention. Each variation of the invention is limited only by therecited limitations of its respective claim, and equivalents thereof,without limitation by other terms not present in the claim. For example,claims that do not call for any exact number of elements in a pluralityare not limited to any specific configuration or number.

In addition, aspects of the invention are particularly pointed out belowusing terminology that the inventor regards as having its broadestreasonable interpretation. The words “comprising,” “including,” and“having” are intended as open-ended terminology, with the same meaningas if the phrase “at least” were appended after each instance thereof. Aclause using the term “whereby” merely states the result of thelimitations in any claim in which it may appear and does not set forthan additional limitation therein. The conjunction “or” betweenalternative elements means “and/or,” and thus does not imply that theelements are mutually exclusive unless context or a specific statementindicates otherwise. It is understood that the description herein isintended to be illustrative only and is not intended to be limitative.Rather, the scope of the invention described herein is limited only bythe claims appended hereto.

1. A grip pressure training device for teaching the correct swing of asport implement comprising a finger sleeve.
 2. The finger sleeve deviceof claim 1 comprising: at least one pressure sensor means, each saidsensor operative to transmit an electronic signal when a predeterminedpressure threshold is exceeded, a microprocessor, said microprocessorconnected to each said pressure sensor, said microprocessor operative tomeasure the grip pressure exerted on said pressure sensor, receive theelectronic signal transmitted by the pressure sensor, process saidelectronic signal, and transmit a trigger signal, a sound module, saidsound module on a board and connected to said microprocessor, said soundmodule operative to receive said trigger signal and deliver an audiblesound to a user, a power source, each of said pressure sensor and soundmodule operatively connected to receive power from said power source, aplurality of wires, said wires configured to operatively connect saidsensors, said sound module, and said power source, and a flexible sleevehousing to encase said pressure sensor, said sound module, saidmicroprocessor, said board, and said power source.
 3. The pressuresensor means of claim 2 wherein the pressure sensor is selected from thegroup consisting of snap-disc pressure sensors, load cells, forcesensors, and digital sensor signal processors.
 4. The pressure sensormeans of claim 2 wherein the pressure sensor is a snap-disc pressuresensor.
 5. The power source of claim 2 wherein the power source is abattery.
 6. The battery as recited in claim 4 wherein the battery is asolar cell.
 7. The flexible sleeve as recited in claim 2 wherein thehousing is selected from the group consisting of synthetic rubbers andpolymers.
 8. The flexible sleeve as recited in claim 2 wherein thehousing is cylindrical in shape.
 9. The flexible sleeve as recited inclaim 2 wherein the housing is neoprene.